Mahagathbandhan Endorses Tejashwi as Chief Minister, Mukesh Sahani as Deputy CM

Strategic Insights -

The Mahagathbandhan, a coalition of opposition parties in Bihar, has formally endorsed RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate, sending a strong message to the NDA government led by Nitish Kumar. At a joint media conference in Patna, Congress leader Ashok Gehlot announced Tejashwi's name as the top leader, while junior ally Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party was named as the deputy chief ministerial candidate. The move is seen as an attempt to woo the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), a key voter base in the state. The Mahagathbandhan has now focused its attention on resolving internal seat-sharing disputes and friendly fights between allies.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Mahagathbandhan has formally endorsed Tejashwi Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate.
  • Mukesh Sahani, the leader of the Vikassheel Insaan Party, has been named as the deputy chief ministerial candidate.
  • The move is seen as an attempt to woo the Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), a key voter base in the state.
  • The Mahagathbandhan has now focused its attention on resolving internal seat-sharing disputes and friendly fights between allies.
  • There are at least nine seats where more than one partner has fielded a candidate.
  • The Congress and the Vikassheel nominees have withdrawn from contests for Warsliganj and Babubarhi to avoid "friendly fights" with the RJD.
  • A group of disgruntled Congress ticket seekers staged a protest at the state party headquarters in Patna, accusing the high command's Bihar minder, Krishna Allavaru, of "selling tickets to outsiders".

Statistics:

  • 15 seats: The number of seats contested by the Vikassheel Insaan Party, the smallest ally in the Mahagathbandhan.
  • 243 seats: The total number of seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
  • 2020: The year when the Mahagathbandhan, with the support of the Vikassheel Insaan Party, formed a government in Bihar with Nitish Kumar as the chief minister.
  • 20 months: The time frame Tejashwi has pledged to transform Bihar if elected as the chief minister.
  • 4 cases: The number of cases in which Lalu Yadav, Tejashwi's father, has been convicted in the fodder scam.

Sources:

  • "Bihar elections 2025: Mahagathbandhan endorses Tejashwi Yadav as chief minister, Mukesh Sahani as deputy CM" by ABP News (November 5, 2025)
  • "Congress ticket seekers protest against party's Bihar in-charge" by ABP News (November 5, 2025)